New Pergola

Really Pretty and I like the layout.

-- There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America. ~William J. Clinton

I like the desighn on the rafter tails, and corner braces. Looks good, are you just leaveing it natural, or painting,staining etc. ?

-- If I cut it too short I can scab a piece on, but if it's too long what do I do?

what a nice oasis. I like how you did the stone around the posts. very kool

-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net

Great job on this. We’ve been thinking about putting one up on our house too so I appreciate you posting this.

-- Chris ~~Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past."

Thanks for the comments. I’m planning to add some natural color solid stain to it. The basic structure can be built in a day for ~ $250….pretty good bang for the buck consider the impact it has. Highly recommend doing one if you’re at all considering it.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

I’m remodeling very soon and have wanted a pergola on our deck. Does it provide much in shade?

Scott, this looks excellent. If I may make a suggestion, though. Wait until next spring before you apply the stain. By then the wood will have weathered a little and will be able to absorb more stain more uniformly. PT wood is packed with Creosote and won’t accept paint or stain when new. I usually don’t touch for a couple months, but by then it may be too cold for applications. As always, follow manufacturors instructions.

Also, the caps on your column details look great, but is there any way you can put some slope on them? 15 degrees is what we generally do for exterior window trim and sills. The less time water has to sit on your wood, the better it is. Just my 2 cents.

-- Wish I were Norm's Nephew

Chad – Depending on the time of day, it can provide quite a bit of shade….this one is optimized for most shade in mid to late PM.

Nailbanger – Thanks for the tips, I was planning to wait several weeks before staining (which may push me into next year), but had not given angling the sills much thought….should be doable.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

what a great addition

really sets the mood

i’d like to see the deck
surround the pool though
with steps up from the garden too

ditto on the time to stain
pt needs to ‘breath’ first

-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle

Fantastic project. I am in the process of buying a house and was thinking of something similar to this for the backyard to create some afternoon/early evening shade. Thanks so much for posting and I may be asking you some questions whenever I get around to starting my project.

-- Matt - http://breakingboardom.wordpress.com/

I like the extra notch on the ends of stringers, adds that pro touch.

-- "My mission in life - make everyone smile !"

Are you planning on putting any vines or plants on it or just leave it as is? Does it produce a decent amount of shade as is in the afternoons?

-- Matt - http://breakingboardom.wordpress.com/

Vines or plants are up to my wife, but they’d increase shade and would look good….won’t happen this year, but it’s been discussed a little. It provides decent filtered shade in mid to late pm as is, but not full shade. Wider stringers, closer spacing, and even a privacy wall of some sort would also increase shade. Material can be added for more shade too.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

Beauitful work, on the pergola.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

Really nice work there.
That really gave life to the house and garden.
Best thoughts,
Mads

-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.